Gallien-Krueger MB2-500: Part II

[scottice]

Now that's CUSTOMER SERVICE!

 

[dave79]

Dave, If I had any notion that there was a problem with the amp I would NOT have sold it. I don't do business that way. Although I stated in the ad "no returns" - I will refund you if you send the amp back to me. PM me if you want to follow up.

Yo Dave, sorry to drag you into this thread, and equal apologies to everybody else for not putting this paragraph in a PM. In retrospect, I should have just quoted you anonymously instead of attaching the link. I just wanted to show people what work had been done on it and its provenance. You did something very intelligent in your listing, and listed an amp known to have problems(A05) as not your responsibility. I would do the same. I gave you positive feedback after it showed up and wasn't DOA, and I intend to leave it like that.

I put my problem on this board because I would like to have it solved. I like the amp and would like to keep it...if it isn't going to electrocute me. Anybody out there have the same experience with their amp??? Does anybody have any constructive criticism that won't accuse me of "spouting out"?

Guess I'll call GK when they're open.

 

[lindseyp]

Call GK.
As an aside, today I was told to "turn down" today. I faked it by twisting the 'boost' knob, yeah it worked, they saw me touch something and assumed I'd cut volume . Later on I decided to play nice (since we were in church) and backed the bass knob from noon to 10:30; That actually cleaned things up for everyone, although the drummer would have preferred I left it just the way it was .

 

[B-string]

Dave88 email [email protected]. (Brian Clark) or ask to speak with him. Brian is rag's go to guy and is always a big help.
As a side I don't believe G-K's warr. carries over to the second owner? Don't know for sure.

 

[dave79]

Finally sent him an email a second ago. The previous repairs were done under warranty for the second owner. The question now is does GK's warranty carry over to the third owner...

 

[kerrycares]

i a/b the MB2-500 yesterday to the:
genz benz 600
new little eden.... sorry forgot the model
mark bass jeff berlin
tc electronics

played the amps through a GK 2x12" NEO which was fine and uncolored.
TC was played through their 2 1x10" setup
the Jeff Berlin is a self contained combo

Pros....overall, all very good amps.
GK was most portable, simple , great looks
Eden was the warmest and quiet
TC had most features by far
Genz Benz tons of power at 600 watts
Mark Bass , great combo

Cons......
GK had noticable hiss until we turned tweeter off
Genz Benz was great although a little distraced by piercing blue lights
TC... way too many lights for me ,didn't dig the 1 x 10" cabs at all
Eden...non...great amp
Mark Bass...great if you dig the 15".......i prefer the 12" combo

summary:
i'll wait until the MB fusion arrives but i'm still leaning toward the GK setup to keep pieces matched.
don't know if Eden builds a 2x12" Neo , but that would be second choice.

thanks to the Music Castle, Berkley Guitars and my fellow bassists that donated their gear, their time and their ears...................

 

[kirkm24]

I was considering one of these heads but with all the issues everyone is having, I am going to just get one of the 700RB or 1001RB heads instead since those have a proven track record.

 

[PaleMelanesian]

My rev. A03 has been flawless for 2 months now.

 

[bazzanderson]

have to admit I'm very intrigued by these little amps. My 1001RB-II has served me well and is basically in mint condition. I was considering selling it for an older tube head but my BDDI is getting me really close to a tube sound through my 1001RB-II effects loop.

Hmm.....I might have to pick up one of these 3lb amps and run my BDDI through it rather than a 50+ lb tube amp!

 

[DaveLS]

My rev. A03 has been flawless for 2 months now.

My A02 has been flawless for 4 months now and about 25 gigs.

 

[Gecko 5]

I've spent the last three hours reading thru part 1 and 2 of this thread.
I tried the Shuttle 6.0 and found a used 3.0, and of course an MB2-500.
I'm not a tube guy. Thats probably why I did not like the 6.0.
I found it to sounb very "brittle".
The 3.0 does not have the tube. I liked it more than the 6.0.
Being used, I am leary.
I tried the MB2 at GC. That little sucker cranks!!! I played it thru an Ampeg 810. I didn't even have it half way. Seems like more power than I would ever need.
Has anyone played theirs through an Avatar 212 Neo, 8 Ohm?
I know there was some debate and discussion on the power amp. How do you tell which amp it has?

 

[dave79]

Took my amp to somebody yesterday to give it a quick going over. He said that although there was something going on with the ground internally, there was little to no risk of electric shock. Thought I'd share, in case I scared anybody off for health reasons

 

[lwdemons]

Bazz - I hear ya - I really loved the sound of my MB2 out of the box, but I recently stated throwing a bddi in front of it and DAMN... awesome. Between the bddi on/off and the 2 channels I have a real nice variety of sounds, all foot switchable.

Gecko - I have a Avatar 212 neo, 8 ohm - but have never really been thrilled with it alone with any of my amps - 1001rb, 400rb, Carvin PB500, SWR 4004. I prefer (actually, I love..) my Avatar 210 neo which rips with this thing, battling a Bogner 1/2 stack, and it holds its ground. With the 210 & 212 together, its amazing, thick, tight, full, lush & LOUD. Just picked up my old Hartke 410 that I've had for 20 years now from a long forgotten basement, cant wait to see how they pair up.

 

[deekay911]

I know there was some debate and discussion on the power amp. How do you tell which amp it has?

Actually it has exactly the same, ubiquitous Bang & Olufson ICE 125ASX2 Power Amp as the Shuttle.....

 

[unclekebm]

FYI

RMC Audio has MB2's for 449.00 shipped
Eric informed me that they received a new shipment from GK last week..

 

[MIJ-VI]

I hope that G-K remedies the MB2's issues soon since Yorkville Sound is the exclusive Gallien-Krueger distributer up here, and Traynor doesn't offer any micro bass amps.

G-K's tiny wonder + a 25 lb. Traynor TC112 would be a nice little rig!

 

[NorCal Dog]

have gigged my MB-2 a few times now, & have had at least a dozen higher vol rehearsals, & the MB-2 paired up with a set of Carvin LS1503's KILLS it runs absolutely silent, & just POUNDS out the low end

one of my best buys to date, two thumbs up

 

[lindseyp]

The settings I used today, which perfectly mated with the MTD Artist (Boost and Master B not used):
GAIN CNTR TRBL HMID LMID BASS MSTR
1030 1030 0915 1150 0900 1200 1030

Our congregation loves this amp.

 

[arseniotall]

This amp is sick. For the size price power and sound I dont think you can beat it. I have an A05 and I will admit when i tried the headphone out it distorted but worked if I didnt plug a speaker into it at the same time. Not sure I need it anyways. My reasoning for buying it was that I loved the way my upright sounded with GK amps (backline, 400 and 700rb), but this amp sounds a teeny bit different at noon. Im still trying to get the same sound I was getting from my backline 600. Still sounds incredible none the less.

 

[Lemon]

I tryed one yesterday and I think it sux.
I cant deliver clean power, the powersupply sags @ less than half power, actually just like the shuttle 6.

this is never 350 clean watts possibly 100 , but no way its 300 watts.

If you know what a good amp sounds like, then its clear that there is some thing wrong with the dwarf.

Good switching Powersupplys and class D amps are not cheap, so go figure.